Political pundits are calling it a “lose” for Republicans. In a congressional district that went for Trump by 27%, a Democratic challenger to fill the seat vacated by Mike Pompeo when he was nominated as head of the CIA by President Trump lost by just seven percent. That is pretty close. Close enough to second guess what might have changed that opportunity.

I don’t call it a victory for Democrats. I call it a lost opportunity. What if the national Democratic party had gotten behind James Thompson and given him some backing? What if they had poured some money into advertising? What if they had put in an effort to get out the vote?

It is a powerful anti-Trump statement that Republican Ron Estes came so close to losing. But Donald Trump also came close to losing. Just not close enough!